Penticton Vees forward Stefano Bottini and Chilliwack Chiefs forward Ray Fust have both made team Switzerland’s for the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship

Photo: Credit: Darren Francis (Fust), Jack Murray (Bottini)

A Penticton Vees player has earned himself a spot on Team Switzerland’s final roster for the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship. 

Stefano Bottini, 18, came onto the Vees team this year after moving from the Lugano program in Switzerland. The newcomer forward had a goal and four assists in 10 games of Okanagan Cup play during the BCHL exhibition season. 

Bottini also earned an assist in Switzerland’s 3-2 win over Austria in their pre-tournament game yesterday.

Chilliwack Chiefs forward Ray Fust also made the final cut for the team, which was on Wednesday. Fust got a goal and an assist in six exhibition games for Chilliwack this season.

He also spent last season at Northwood School in New York before joining the Chiefs for the year’s season. Prior to his stint at Northwood, Fust played in the Lausanne program in Switzerland.

Both players have experience representing Switzerland at international tournaments, but this will be their first opportunity to compete at the U20 level.

The Swiss are in Group A along with Canada, Finland, Germany and Slovakia.Games begin on Christmas day at 11 a.m. with preliminary round play.

This year marks the third in a row there will be a BCHL representative on the Swiss team at the World Juniors after former Salmon Arm Silverbacks forward and current Colgate University sophomore Matthew Verboon was on the roster the last two tournaments.

Bottini and Fust join Canada’s Alex Newhook as players representing the BCHL in this year’s tournament.